During his first term as mayor, Tom Brown worked to reorganize city government, fill key positions, improve efficiency and establish a bond rating for the first time. Brown said he’s been a part every bond rating for the last four years and served during the hiring of a new city administrator, new fire chief and assistant fire chief, new police chief and assistant police chief.

Brown also intervened to prevent the closing of the McPherson SRS office and the child advocacy office by negotiating a deal in which the state, city and county paid for the facility for a year. Closings of those offices would have had a $6 million annual economic impact and meant the loss of 17 jobs in the county.

Brown also used revenue given to the city to maintain and improve streets and sidewalks without increasing the mill levy, including improvements near Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Elementary and McPherson Middle schools.

For the next four years, Brown said he wishes to improve community relations, address housing issues and pursue economic development opportunities. Brown said these issues will be best adnerships and relationships to help ensure new housing is not only built, but also is affordable.

“We continue to be the most business- and industry-friendly community in central Kansas,” Brown said. “A major strength of our community has always been our ‘can-do’ attitude, and we have set very high standards.”

In a statement to The Sentinel, Brown expressed thanks to the community of McPherson for their support during his last four years of service and asked for continued support.

Aside from his previous service as mayor, the 70-year-old candidate also is the president and sole stock owner of Savant Services Inc., a consulting firm in McPherson, and a regional dealer with Stanley Products.

Brown is the only candidate to have filed for the mayor position before the Jan. 22 deadline.